Giving fish an easy target is a great way to attract more strikes. One way to do this is to use a bait with realistic or oversized eyes. While a basic jig head is good, a jig with lifelike eyes can be better. I’ve had good success using the VMC Moon Eye and various Northland jigs with 3D-moulded eyes for walleye, panfish, bass, and lake trout.
But, don’t take my word for it. Bassmaster Elite angler, Jacob Wheeler, used one to win at Lake Cherokee while vertically fishing a fluke-type plastic.
“The big key for me was that VMC Neon Moon Eye Jig,” Wheeler said at the weigh-in stage. “It has a big eye on it, and it rocked [on the fall]. And when it was rocking, the eye would shimmy down there and it had a lot more action… I feel like, no doubt, this week I got more bites because of that.”
Realistic eyes are a hot trend when it comes to crankbait, jerkbait, and topwater designs. Look for eyes on spoons too, including the Williams Nipigon and Lucky Strike Gold One-Eyed Devil Bait.
Whether holographic, metallic, or paint, eyes provide a circular spot of contrast that predators target. It’s a small detail that can help put more fish in the net.
It’s easy to add eyes to customize jigs, spoons, and other lures.
Adhesive eyes are available from www.luremaking.com and other lure-making supply shops.
Originally published in the Ontario OUT of DOORS 2018 Fishing Annual
